Strip feeding device



Feb. 4, 1958 A. w. METZNER 2,822,167

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE Filed May 12, 1955 2 Sheejs-Sheei. 1

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INVENTOR. ALBERT W METZ/VER BMW I Feb. 4, 1958 A. w. METZNER STRIPFEEDING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 12, 1955 INVENTOR. ALBE/PTWMfTZA/[A BY U Unite.

STRIP FEEDING DEVICE This invention relates to strip feeding apparatus,and more particularly to a rotary pin wheel feeding device of thedisappearing pin type, having particular adaption to high speed feedingoperations.

In the usual strip feeding apparatus for the advance of marginallyperforated record strip material and the like, the progressive extendingand retracting movements of a pin wheel feeding device need cover only arelatively small circumferential area of the pin wheel body and theactual feeding of the strip is accomplished in the main by singlesuccessive pins. In ultra high speed record making machines of recentdesign, however, it is desirable to extend the area of engagement of thefeeding pins with the strip in order that two or more of the successivepins may be in feeding position at the same time. More accurate andpositive registration is thus possible and there is also avoided aconcentration of tearing forces upon the strip upon each of the highfrequency starting and stopping impulses of the strip.

It has been known heretofore to mount feeding pins on a belt or chainand so obtain multiple engagement of feeding pins with the perforationsin the strip, but it is contemplated in the instant invention to adapt asubstantially rotary pin wheel feeding device for high speed operationas described.

The object of the invention is to simplify the construction as well asthe means and mode of operation of strip feeding apparatus, whereby suchapparatus may not only be economically manufactured, but will be moreeficient and satisfactory in use, adaptable to a wide variety ofapplications, and be unlikely to get out of repair.

Another object of the invention is to provide for selective adjustmentof the pin wheel feeding device for normal or low speed operation andfor high speed operamm.

A further object of the invention is to achieve the I inventiveobjectives as above noted while utilizing a generally conventional pinwheel construction and mode of operation.

A further object of the invention is to provide pin wheel guide cam inthe form of an expansible band wherein the high point of the cam may belengthened at will by expansion of the band in order to lengthen thecircumferencial area of projection of the feeding pins.

A further object of the invention is to provide a strip feedingapparatus possessing the advantageous structural features, the inherentmeritorious characteristics and the mode of operation herein mentioned.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will morefully appear in the specification, the invention intended to beprotected by Letters Patent consists of the features of construction,the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation ashereinafter described or illustrated in the accompanying drawings, ortheir equivalents.

Referring to the accompanying drawing wherein is States Patent '0 shownone but obviously not necessarily the only form of embodiment of theinvention, I

Fig. 1 is a view in end elevation of a platen assembly of a typewritingmachine embodying a pin wheel feeding device in accordance with theillustrative form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of one end of the assembly of Flg. 1, in frontelevation; v

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. l with some parts of the platenassembly omitted and with additional parts of the pin wheel feedingdevice shown in dotted outline;

Fig. 4 is a view in cross section of the pin Wheel feeding device, takensubstantially along the line 4-4 of Pi .2;

Fig 5 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the pin'wheel feeding deviceadjusted to project the feeding pins in a different (non-feeding)circumferential area of the pin wheel body;

Fig. 6 is an exploded view of the pin wheel feeding device;

Fig. 7 is a view in cross section, taken substantially along the line7'7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a view in longitudinal section, taken substantially along theline 8-8 of Fig. 3 and enlarged relatively to Fig. 3;

Fig. 9 is a detail view in perspective of the expansible guide ring forthe feeding pins;

Fig. 10 is a detail view in side elevation of the expansible ring andcam assembly adjusted to expand 'thehigh point of the cam;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the ring of Fig. 10, showing the feedingpins inter-engaged therewith; I

Fig. 12 is an exploded view, in perspective, of the relativelystationary cam disc assembly comprised in the pin wheel unit.

Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughoutthe several views.

Referring to the drawings, the invention is disclosed as part of aplaten assembly of a typewriting 'or like machine wherein two or morerotary pin wheels are mounted on or form a part of the platen and areengageable with perforate margins of a continuous strip of recordmaterial for intermittent step -by step advance of the strip in responseto rotation of the platen.

Thus, a shaft 20 is fixedly mounted in the typewriter carriage and inturn has secured thereto a sleeve 21 formed with a longitudinal seriesof transverse cuts 22. A pin wheel body 23, of which there may be two ormore, is mounted on the sleeve 22 and is connected thereto for unisonrotary motion in a manner not here shown. The body 23 is held normallyagainst longitudinal motion relatively to the sleeve 22 by a platen roll24 which engages one side of the body and by a cylindrical spacer '25which engages the other end of the pin wheel feeding .device of whichthe body 23 is a part. The spacer 25 is interposed between the pin wheelfeeding device and longitudinally adjustable lock collar means '26having a latch .27 .engageable in a cut 22.

The body 23 includes a central longitudinally extending hub portion 28which is threadedat its outer end to receive a retaining nut 29, thebody 23 .and nut 29 -cooperating to hold the parts of the pinwheelfeeding device in a unitary relation. The nut 23 is directly .lbllilt ed by the spacer 25. Further comprised in :the body 23 is arelatively elevated annulus 31, a concentric recess 32, and acounterbore 33. Still further, radial holes or slideways 34 open attheir outer ends through the periphery of the annulus 31 and at theirinner ends communicate with the recess 32. Mounted in the counterbore33is a relatively stationary disc 35 having a central hub rotatablymounted on the hub 28 of the pin wheel body. A plate 37 is arrangedalongside the disc 35, being rotatably mounted on a leftwardly extendingportion 36a of the hub 36 and connected as by a pin 38 to the disc forunison rotation therewith.

The plate 37 has circumferentially spaced apart peripheral notches 39and 41 engageable by a finger on a pawl 42 pivotally connected at 43 toa reactant member 44 also rotatably mounted on the extension 36a of thehub 36. An arm 45 on the reactant member 44 is bifurcated and engages atransversely extending machine rod 46. The reactant member 44 is thusheld against rotation and is in turn effective through the pawl 42,plate 37 and pin 38 to prevent rotation of the disc 35. The assembly ofparts comprising the reactant member 44, plate 37 and disc 35accordingly does not partake of the rotary motion of the pin wheel body23.

As indicated, however, the pawl 42 represents a releaseable couplingbetween the reactant member 44 and the plate 37. Release of the pawl 42from the notch 41, for example, frees the plate 37 for limited motion ina rotary direction. This motion may be continued until the notch 39 isin position to be engaged by the pawl 42, it being apparent that theconstruction and arrangement of parts is one providing for arcuateadjustment of the plate 37, and therefore of the disc 35, betweenopposed limits as represented by the notches 39 and 41 with means beingprovided in the form of pawl 42 to lock the parts so moved in adjustedposition. A fan shaped portion 47 is provided on the plate 37 and hasoppositely disposed spaced apart indentations 48 and 49 lying adjacentto the peripheral area of the annulus 31 facilitating the rotaryadjustment of the disc 35, as through use of a hook, pick or the like.

The holes or slideways 34 in the annulus 31 slidingly mount feeding pinsadapted to have their outer tapered ends project through and beyond thesurface of the annulus 31 to engage perforations in a. strip 52 which isguided about the platen 24 by means including a holddown bracket 53. Thestrip 52 has its one marginal edge in intimately contacting relation tothe surface of the annulus 31 over a part, substantially half, of thecircumferential area of the pin wheel feeding device. Within this partof the circumferential area the feeding pins 51 may be successivelyprojected in response to rotation of the pin wheel body wherebyprogressively to engage the perforations in the strip and so advance thestrip.

At their inner ends the feeding pins 51 have transverse notches 53having common engagement with the edge of an expansible split ring 54tensioned to assume normally a cylindrical shape. The opposite edge ofthe ring 54 is received in a cavity or recess 55 in the disc 35 ineccentric surrounding relation to a rightwardly extension 36b of thedisc hub 36. Also in surrounding relation to the hub extension 36b is acam 56 secured to the hub extension 36b as by staking in such manner asto cause the cam 56 to assume the character of an eccentric bossformation on the bottom of the cavity or eccentric recess 55. Over amajor part of its length, the cam 56 defines with the wall of the cavity55 a relatively narrow crevice 57, the opposite ends of which terminatein a relatively large approximately crescent shaped space 58. The ring54 is received in the crevice 57 in such manner as in effect to become apart of the relatively stationary disc 35, and the ring is moreover of asize as closely to hug and correspond to the configuration of the cam56, the ring being unexpanded into the space 58. The eccentric formationgiven the ring 54 by the cam 56 effects a gradual extension of thefeeding pins 51 as they are carried to the high point of the cam andfully projects such pins as they reach and pass through the high point.As indicated, for example in Fig. 3, the shape of the cam 56 and theother construction and arrangement of parts is such that only one of thefeeding pins 51 is fully extended at any one time, the immediatelypreceding pin being at this time largely retracted and-the immediatelysucceeding pin just starting to project above the surface of the annulus31. While this presentation of feeding pins to the perforations in thestrip 52 is satisfactory and normal for usual operational speeds, it isproposed according to the present invention to permit modification inthe shape of the guide ring in effect to expand the high point of thecam 56 to increase the duration of travel of the feeding pins thereoverand thereby enable two or more of such pins to be fully projected at oneand the same time.

In the illustrative embodiment of that concept, the cam 56 includes asegment 59 lying adjacent to the crescent shaped space 58 anddisplaceable in the manner indicated in Fig. 10 to expand the ring 54outward into the space 58 whereby substantially to increase the lengthof the high part of the ring. The segment 59 is secured to a pin 61which is rotatably mounted in the disc 35, and, outside the disc 35, issecured to one end of an arm 62. On the other end of the arm 62 is aknob 63, the arm 62 being adapted for manipulative rocking motion tomove the segment 59 between the noneifective position of Fig. 7 and theeffective position of Fig. 10. The effect of expansion of the ring 54 isas indicated in Fig. 4 wherein two adjacent feeding pins 51 are fullyextended and fully engaged with the strip at the same time, with afurther and immediately preceding pin just starting to withdraw from thestrip.

The previously described arcuate adjustment permitted of the disc 35serves to adjust the pin wheel feeding device to feeding and non-feedingpositions. Thus, set in the position shown in Fig. 3 the disc 35,through the cam 56 thereon, is effective to project the feeding pinsabove the surface of the annulus 31 in that circumferential area of thefeeding device in which there is intimate contact with the strip 52.This then is the feeding adjustment position. The non-feeding adjustmentposition is shown in Fig. 5 wherein the disc 35 and its cam 56 have beenadjusted arcuately a distance to bring the high point of the camrearwardly or out of line with that part of the circumferential area ofthe feeding device contacted by the strip. In this position of the partsthe feeding pins 51 are projected as before but are ineffective toengage the strip so that no feeding results.

The reactant member 44 is formed with appropriate slots 64 and 65 topermit free rocking motion of the arm 62 in adjusting the segment 59 andalso in moving with the disc 35 between feeding and non-feedingpositions of adjustment. The knob 63 is threaded onto a screw stud 60 onthe arm 62, and may be tightened and loosened thereon relatively to thereactant member 44 in order selectively to hold the cam segment in itsadjusted positions.

The guide ring 54 is, as noted, a split resilient band. The free endshave oppositely extending complementary stepped formations 66 and 67which when the ends are brought together interfit with one another andallow overlapping of the ends of the hand without forcing such ends intodifferent planes. The feeding pins 51 accord' ingly have a continuousendless track on which to revolve in acompaniment with the pin wheelbody 23 and it will be understood in this connection that the maximumpermitted expansion of the ring 54, as determined by the cavity orrecess 55, is less than the distance required to separate the ends ofthe ring. The depth of the grooves or slots 53 in the feeding pins 51,it further Will be understood, is such as to maintain engagement with atleast a part of the edge of the ring in any position of expansion of thering.

From the above description it will be apparent that there is thusprovided a device of the character described possessing the particularfeatures of advantage before enumerated as desirable, but whichobviously is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions,detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from theprinciple involved or sacrificing any of its advantages.

While in order to comply with the statute the invention has beendescribed in language more or less specific as to structural features,it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificfeatures shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosedcomprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect,and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms ormodifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In strip feeding apparatus, a rotary pin wheel body, radiallyextensible and retractable feeding pins carried by said body, a radiallydeformable circular guide for said feeding pins supported in relativelystationary relation to said body, means for expanding said guide in alimited circumferential area for relative extension of the feeding pinsin that area, and means for increasing the length of circumferentialarea of expansion of said guide for lengthening of the circumferentialarea of projection of said pins.

2. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in thatsaid last named means is selectively operable, said expanding meansimparting a fixed eccenuic shape to said guide, which shape may bechanged by operation of said last named means.

3. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 1, characterized by arelatively rotatable mounting for said expanding means providing foralternate adjustment thereof between positions defining differentcircumferential areas of projection of said feeding pins.

4. Strip feeding apparatus, including a rotary pin wheel body, radialholes therein, feeding pins slidably mounted in said holes, relativelystationary cam means serving as a guide for progressive extending andretracting movements of said pins in response to rotation of said body,said cam means having a high point of relatively short circumferentiallength, and selectively operable means for circumferentially expandingsaid high point.

5. Strip feeding apparatus, including a pin wheel body, means forguiding record strip material over a part of the circumferential area ofsaid body, feeding pins carried by said body for relative radial motion,guide means for effecting a progressive extension and retraction of saidfeeding pins as they are carried through said circumferential area, andselectively operable means for expanding said guide means in a directionto increase the length of the circumferential area in which said pinsare extended.

6. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by anadjustable mounting for said guide means whereby said guide means may beadjusted to effect extending and retracting movements of said feedingpins in another part of the circumferential area of said body.

7. In strip feeding apparatus, a rotary pin wheel body, said body havinga circumferential series of radial holes, feeding pins slidably mountedin said holes, relatively stationary disc means received in the side ofsaid body, said disc means having in one side thereof an eccentricallyshaped recess, an expansible ring mounted in said recess and engaged bysaid pins as a guide for radial reciprocation thereof, said ring havinga first eccentric formation in which it defines with the wall of saidrecess an approximately crescent shaped space outside said ring, andselectively operable means for expanding said ring into said crescentshaped space.

8. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 7, characterized in thatsaid ring is in the form of a split expan sible band installed on end insaid recess, there being an eccentric cam in said recess surrounded bysaid band and defining the said eccentric formation thereof.

9. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 8, characterized in thatsaid selectively operable means includes a substantially radiallydisplaceable segment of said cam, and means for displacing said segment.

10. In strip feeding apparatus, a rotary pin wheel body having a recessin one side thereof and radial holes opening at their one or outer endsthrough the periphery of said body and communicating at their other orinner ends with said recess, feeding pins having a sliding mounting insaid holes and formed with transverse notches near their inner ends, andan expansible split ring received in said recess and having one edgethereof in common engagement with the notches in said feeding pins, saidring being variably expansible to present high points of varyingcircumferential distance.

11. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in thatthe ends of said ring are cut back on opposite sides thereof to interfitin substantially the same plane and to prevent complete separation ofthe ends of the ring upon expansion thereof, the notches in said feedingpins being sufficiently deep to engage the said edge of said ring in anyexpanded position thereof within the limits of said recess.

12. In strip feeding apparatus, a rotary pin wheel body having a recessin one side thereof and radial holes opening at their outer ends throughthe periphery of said body and communicating at their inner ends withsaid recess, feeding pins slidably mounted in said holes, a relativelystationary disc having on one side thereof a hub received in saidrecess, an eccentric cavity in said hub, an eccentric cam formation insaid cavity fixed relatively to said disc and defining with the wall ofsaid cavity a relatively narrow crevice extending over the major part ofthe periphery of said cam formation and terminating at its ends in awider approximately crescent shaped space, an expansible split ringreceived in said crevice and conforming to the shape of said camformation, said ring presenting an edge interengaged with the inner endsof said feeding pins to control the radial movements of said pins inresponse to relative rotation of said body and said disc, and means forselectively expanding said split ring into said crescent shaped space.

13. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in thatsaid last named means includes a displaceable segment of said camformation, and means accessible from the other side of said hub fordisplacing said segment.

14. Strip feeding apparatus according to claim 12, characterized byreleasable means for holding said disc stationary relatively to said pinwheel body, said disc being rotatably adjustable to shift the high pointof said cam formation circumferentially with respect to said body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,974,368 Sherman Sept. 18, 1934 2,047,233 Sherman July 14, 19362,067,211 Sherman Jan. 12, 1937 2,102,651 Sherman Dec. 21, 19372,271,306 Nichols Ian. 27, 1942 2,683,519 Davidson July 13, 1954

